The Mapping Museum research project was created to look at the increase in the number of museums in the UK. As part of this project, Vivienne Williams, Sandra Plaister, and Alan Williams were interviewed about the Brynmawr & District Museum.

Explore more about the Mapping Museum project here and read Williams, Plaister, and Williams' interview below:

Interview summary

Name of persons being interviewed: Vivienne Williams, Sandra Plaister, Alan Williams

Location of interview: Brynmawr & District Museum

Date of Recording: 07 March 2019

Recording Length: 00:45:15

Name of interviewer: Dr Toby Butler

Description: Brynmawr & District Museum focuses on the local history of the area covering various aspects of home, work and leisure life including schooling, church and chapel culture, youth activities, sport, medical care, police and public services, the Jewish community, and crafts, furniture and local industries established by Quaker missions.

Summary of main points in interview: Vivienne Williams is company secretary; Alan Williams is curator; Sandra Plaister is director. They describe how the founding members were involved in the local history society and were approached by the Town Centre Partnership to develop a museum.

The historical society had already collected artifacts and two rooms were found above a shop; after a few months the upper floor of the Carnegie Library became available. Once it was established people began to offer artifacts, particularly furniture made in the Quaker Brynmawr Experiment. They discuss how the displays have evolved. They discuss how the town has changed and the population has got older.

Local government changes affected Authority borders and centralised things, and the town lost its sense of identity and some public facilities; the museum has helped to redress that. They discuss the visitor profile and the museum expansion.